Is now the right time to invest in gold?

Over the past years, owning a gold piece has been one of the best ways of investing. The year 2021 is a significant year for those who are investing in gold as there is an observable rise in its value. If you can afford it, you might want to start collecting by buying small accessories made of gold.

Aside from it adding to your overall look, it is a lifesaver whenever you need an emergency fund because pawn shops make the selling of gold very easy today. Another good reason to possess gold is that it doesn’t deteriorate nor lose its value through the years. Some families even have decade-old gold pieces that have been transferred for how many generations.

Regardless if you are collecting gold pieces as an investment or just for personal use, here’s how to tell if you are investing in legitimate gold:

Look for a Hallmark

One of the simplest ways to check the legitimacy of a gold piece is to check the hallmark. A hallmark is a small mark, usually, a number imprinted on real gold or silver metals. It is commonly found inside of your ring or on the hook of bracelets or necklaces. Gold and silver manufacturers put a mark on the gold on the amount of karat it contains.

Since it is common among jewelry, desperate imitators of gold have already mastered faking marks to sell illegitimate gold for the price of real gold. This is why you will still need to perform mode tests on a piece.

Try the Scratch Test

If you really want to know if your gold possessions have real value, you have to risk getting them a bit damaged. One way to check if the gold is real is by doing a ceramic test. You can do it by simply scratching your gold piece against a ceramic tile. Real gold will leave a gold mark on the ceramic tile when scratched against it.

Since it is a risky process, you may, of course, opt to skip this option to maintain the quality of your prized possession and look at the color instead.

Observe Discolorations

Cheaper pieces of jewelry that use different types of metal are more prone to discoloration. These pieces must be removed when washing hands using alcohol and sanitizers because these cleaning agents can alter the color and quality of the metal.

Discoloration is one thing you don’t have to worry about if you are wearing gold accessories, even if you are acidic. Pure gold, on the other hand, never changes its color when in contact with any chemicals. If you observed any change in the color of your earrings, rings, or necklaces, then the chances are that they are not real gold!

Use a Magnet

Though gold is considered magnetic, it has a poor magnetic field compared to other metals. If you have any piece of magnet at home, try putting it near your gold piece. If it easily sticks to the magnet, then you should know that it doesn’t have actual gold value.

Consult a Jeweler

Remember that reliable jewelers can spot real gold just by looking and touching it. Yet, they may also have a better and more advanced way to check the purity of your gold material.

Visit the Nearest Pawn Shop

If you don't want to risk the quality of your gold by testing its value by yourself, the best and easiest way you can do is go to the nearest pawn shop. Pawn shops are known to buy real gold and other metals. This is because they have their own way of checking if gold is real.

Conclusion

Gold pieces of jewelry are able to maintain their quality and value, even when passed down for several generations. Yet, you will always want to know that the piece you have is authentic. By following the test tips we've shared above, you can rest assured that your beloved piece is not an imitation of the real thing and that you can get a significant amount of return in the future!

Are you planning to sell your jewelry or finding a new piece for your collection? River City Pawn has numerous pawn shops in Owensboro, KY, that can give you just exactly what you need. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!